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Metoprolol Side Effects

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Metoprolol has been studied extensively in people with high blood pressure, angina, and congestive heart failure. In these clinical studies, side effects are always documented and compared to those that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common metoprolol side effects include:
- Slow heart rate -- in up to 16 percent of people
- Tiredness -- up to 10 percent
- Dizziness -- up to 10 percent
- Diarrhea -- up to 5 percent
- Itching or unexplained rash -- up to 5 percent
- Depression -- up to 5 percent (see Metoprolol and Depression)
- Shortness of breath -- up to 3 percent.
Other common side effects of metoprolol (occurring in more than 1 percent of people) include but are not limited to:
- Cold, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
- Congestive heart failure
- Swelling of the arms, legs, hands, or feet
- Low blood pressure
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Gas.
Rare metoprolol side effects occur in less than 1 percent of people taking the drug. Given how rarely they occur, however, it can be difficult to tell whether these side effects are actually caused by the medication or something else.
Some of these rare side effects of metoprolol include but are not limited to:
- Allergic reaction
- Short-term memory loss
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Hepatitis
- Increase in liver enzymes
- Low blood sugar (see Metoprolol and Low Blood Sugar)
- Peyronie's disease
- Ringing of the ears (tinnitus)
- Worsening of psoriasis
- Reversible hair loss (see Metoprolol and Hair Loss)
- Dry eyes (see Metoprolol and Dry Eyes)
- Diabetes
- Weight gain
- Arthritis
- Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction or ED (see Metoprolol Sexual Side Effects).
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD



